The National Security And Homeland Security Presidential Directive

What would happen in this country if another significant terrorist incident occurred in the next 18 months?

According to the "National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive" (put in place May 9, 2007) the president of the United States will assume leadership of the US government in a way that the Founders never, ever envisioned nor thought wise.

The directive outlines a process to continue the operations of government, where "the President shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for ensuring constitutional government" while being advised and assisted by "the National Continuity Coordinator" aka the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.

This directive sets off the alarm bells among a diverse group of observers from the netroots to Jerome Corsi of Swiftboat fame. Here's what Corsi, who ironically had as much to do with Bush being elected president in 2004 as anyone in this country, has to say about it:

Translated into layman's terms, [the directive says] when the president determines a national emergency has occurred, the president can declare to the office of the presidency powers usually assumed by dictators to direct any and all government and business activities until the emergency is declared over...

The directive...makes no attempt to reconcile the powers created there for the National Continuity Coordinator with the National Emergency Act...[For example, this act] allows that the president may declare a national emergency but requires that such proclamation "shall immediately be transmitted to the Congress and published in the Federal Register."

Corsi, not known as a civil libertarian, calls it "a power grab...[granting] near dictatorial powers to the office of the president in the event of a national emergency declared by the president."

Mr. Corsi, meet Senator Boxer. Senator Boxer, Mr. Corsi.

From the Directive:

Recognizing that each branch of the Federal Government is responsible for its own continuity programs, an official designated by the Chief of Staff to the President shall ensure that the executive branch's [Continuity of Operations] and [Continuity of Government] policies in support of [Enduring Constitutional Government] efforts are appropriately coordinated with those of the legislative and judicial branches in order to ensure interoperability and allocate national assets efficiently to maintain a functioning Federal Government.

In other words, devil take the hindmost -- the president is putting dick Cheney in charge.

Again, in section 2e of the Directive:

"Enduring Constitutional Government," or "ECG," means a cooperative effort among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Federal Government, coordinated by the President, as a matter of comity with respect to the legislative and judicial branches and with proper respect for the constitutional separation of powers among the branches...

The Directive outlines a very broad range of triggering events:

[This Directive ensures] that Primary Mission-Essential Functions continue to be performed during a wide range of emergencies, including localized acts of nature, accidents, and technological or attack-related emergencies; ... Protecting and stabilizing the Nation's economy and ensuring public confidence in its financial systems...

Another Cat-4 or Cat-5 hurricane smashes into the Gulf Coast? President's in charge. Japan and China call in their debts? President's in charge. Russian hackers crash the Internets? President's in charge.

If you think the directive is vaguely written and I'm reading too much into it, well, when has that ever stopped this crew?

Read the Directive for yourself. Read what the netroots are saying. Read what the right-wingers are saying. I'm struck most especially by the wide-ranging shock and opposition to this on both ends of the sprectrum.

Bottom line: this is just another piece of the puzzle that seeks to grant unlimited power to "the unitary executive." And the worst part? Once the genie is out of the bottle, future presidents -- Clinton, Giuliani, Obama, Thompson, Edwards, Romney, et. al. -- would be hard-pressed to resist using this tool. It's just human nature: power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Bottom line: impeaching this president and vice-president, and/or electing a Democratic president is not enough: this directive must be rescinded as soon as possible. It must be the first act of the very next president...

...if we indeed ever get another one.